D. J. Poulton 2020 | Ormeau | Queensland | Australia| Contact Dave
DAVO’S HOME PAGE FOR VIETNAM VETERANS
From the Jungle to the Concrete…OnjoiningtheCommonwealthPolicetherewasameasureofacceptanceinthefactthatIwasa VietnamVeteran.NotsowiththepublicofAustralia.AsaVietnamVeterantherewasahostilityinthis nationtowardsusthatwasfuelledbythemedia.Thishostilitysingledoutveteransastheobjectforanti VietnamWaranger.Itwasmadeverypersonal,andthemajorityofveteransfelttheonslaughtofpublic opinion against them. Same war, different battleground - new enemy - different tactics. Thiswasanerainwhichweasanationcouldnotbeproud.Agenerationofyoungmenandwomen wererobbedoftheiryouthbyawarthatwasfoughtintheloungeroomsthroughthemediumof television.Tothinkthatyoungmenandwomen,orderedtofightfortheirnationcouldbetreatedinsuch awaywasanationaldisgrace.AsaVietnamVeteranandaservingmemberofthePoliceForceofthe CommonwealthIwasthrownintoadifferentfrontline.Thebattlelinesweredrawnandtheenemywas very much visible - Australians. Oneofthetasksofmydailydutieswastoattendthemoratoriumdemonstrationsonthefrontlinein Sydney,battlestudentabusefornearly8hoursadayandthengooffdutyandreturntosocietyasif nothingeverhappened..Iftherewasanyothersinglethinginthisnationthatgaverisetotheveteran beingalienatedfromhisownpeopleitwasthewaynationalandinternationalmediafuelledpublic opinion. IstoodalongsidemanyVietnamVeterans,whohadchosentoservetheirStateandcountryinanother capacity,servingPolice(NSWandCommonwealth),tobepushed,spaton,urinatedon,flowerbombed, waterbombed,abusedwithlanguagethatevencurledmyears,andthreatenedwitheveryformof corporalpunishmentinthebookbydemonstrators.Tomeitwasn'tjustademo,thiswasalloutwarand Iwasgoingtosurvivenomatterwhat.ThoseyearsofmoratoriumtookitstollonmyhealthandIfound myselfinConcordhospitalsufferingfromsevereanxietydepression(PTSD).IreturnedfromVietnam sufferingfromitalreadyandthedemo'stippedthescalesforme.ThedoctorscalleditSevereAnxiety Depression.Theyreallydidn'tunderstandandcouldn'ttreatmesoitwasbacktothefrontline.(read about Concord Hospital - click here) Everywhereyouturnedinsocietyyouhadafightonyourhands.NowonderVietnamveteransstuckto themselves,withdrewfromsocietyandhadthehighestsuiciderateperheadofpopulationinthis country.Nowonderwiththewaytheyweretreated.EventheRSLrejectedus-"Youdidn'tfightinareal war,"weweretoldoverandoveragain!Irememberwhatthereactionofthefamilieswholostaloved one in the war would have been to that type of remark. Eventoday,whenwevetsgetachancetosharewithotherswhatitwaslikelivinginAustraliaafter returningfromVietnam,thestandardreplyis,"Ididn'tknowallthiswenton(totheveteranthatis)." Asa Vietnam Veteran I have a distinct distaste and distrust of the media to this day. ThefouryearsafterIreturnedfromVietnamwereworsethananythingIcouldhaveimaginedatthe time. Australiawasmynation.IhadgonetoVietnaminthetraditionofmyforefathersandmyfatherand upheldtheintegrityoftheAussieDigger.Ican'ttellyouhowashamedIwastocallmyselfanAussiein thoseyears.IfpeopleaskedifIhadbeentoVietnamIwouldsaynojusttoavoidtheavalanchethat wouldfollow. Youngmenandwomen,robbedoftheiryouthintheprimeoftheirlife.Werewetoblame?- no!Wasitourfault?-no!Didwehavecontroloverourlife?-no!Didwefeelappreciatedandrespected for serving our country? - no! In1972,IandthreeotherVietnamVeteransweregiventhetaskofprotectingtheNorthVietnamese CommunistDelegationontheirvisittoSydney.YoumayrecallthatourLabourGovernmentoftheday hadinvitedthemtoAustraliafortradetalksamongstotherthings.Whataslapintheface.Wehadjust spent3-4yearsbeingabusedandbeltedbydemonstratorsandnowwehadtoprotecttheCommunist Delegation-itwasthisthatfinallybrokethestrawforme.Ihadhadenoughandseriouslycontemplated talking a walk and going AWOL - permanently! MuchhasbeendonetohealtheunseenwoundsofVietnam,butmoreneedstobedone.Therearestill manyVeteranswhofeelitisalltoolateanditcanneverchange.Theirlifeisonewithouthope-been there, worn the 'T' shirt, and its not a place I want to go back to.go to top